No green dye in the food. No silly little men meant to represent the children of the goddess, nor pale and soulless beer: come in to 18 Reasons and celebrate some real Irish and Irish-American food. Chef Mike grew up in house divided, with a Mom who wore Orange on St. Patrick’s day….until he found William Butler Yeats in a stack of college poetry and his Dad informed him he was a descendant. What followed was an odyssey into that half of his lineage, and a love of the food, folklore, and music of his Fathers. For this Community Dinner evening, get stuck into a bowl of Colcannon – Irish mashed potatoes and kale, mixed with butter and honest cream, and because times are good, some bacon. Because this is a celebration, we will carve some house-cured corned beef over the bowl, celebrating charcuterie and honoring the ancient cows of the Irish kings.

Born in the Haight Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco,
Mike Weller
grew up in suburbs of San Jose, where he discovered cooking as his first profession and lifetime passion. After wandering through typical teenage jobs at pizza joints and ice cream parlors, Mike’s first “restaurant” job was with Sambo’s Coffee Shops, slinging hash and cooking eggs for the bar rush and Sunday breakfast crowds. He moved on to help open several restaurants, attend the California Culinary Academy, and study under European chefs with Michelin backgrounds. Later, Mike served as an executive chef for catering companies, wineries and country clubs. When his son was born, Mike transitioned his career into teaching, returning to the CCA where he eventually became the Executive Chef and Director of Academics. Having taught for Le Cordon Bleu North America in both online and brick and mortar schools, Mike is thrilled to return to teaching in a neighborhood-based community. When he is not teaching he tends to his backyard garden, helps his wife to can and preserve food, and loves to cook for his friends and family.

ABOUT COMMUNITY DINNER

A monthly tradition, we open our doors to friends new and old, welcoming all to our share a table and a delicious meal. Every dinner is something different and always tasty. Wine and beer are for sale at the event. Kids welcome!

The
“Every Hour Matters”
an
urgent
COTS campaign to replace an unexpected loss of funding for our year-round emergency shelters,including the
Waystation
,
Daystation
, and our two
family shelters
. These programs, together, ensure year-round day and night shelter for single adults and families facing the crisis of homelessness.

“Every Hour Matters”
Waystation
Daystation
family shelters

Each $18.50 gift provides
one
hour of shelter.We are raising money to cover
3,427 hours
annually at these programs. If you donate by
August 31
, a
$25,000 Challenge Gran
t will
match
your gift —
doubling
your impact.

3,427 hours
August 31
$25,000 Challenge Gran

Can you give
$18.50
right now
to cover
one hour of shelter
? We
need
your help to close this gap.

Can you give
$18.50
right now
one hour of shelter
Every dollar helps; every hour matters

The
Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS)
is the largest service provider for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless in Vermont. COTS offers emergency shelter, prevention assistance, services, and transitional and permanent housing for those who are homeless and marginally housed.
We believe
: in the value and dignity of every human life; that housing is a fundamental human right; and that emergency shelter is not the solution to homelessness.